| Some History of the Lipizzaners | | | | started the Lipizzaners of South Africa School. This is |
| The aristocratic Lipizzaners are descended from the | | | | one of the two accredited Lipizzaner Centers in the |
| Iberian Horse, which is the oldest breed in the world. | | | | world, the other being the Spanish Riding School. |
| Iberians were used as war horses from 4000 years | | | | Description and Conformation of the Lipizzaners |
| before Mohammed, when camels were used as | | | | Foals are usually dark or black-brown when born. |
| mounts in warfare and their Lipizzaner descendants | | | | They go through several different color changes |
| today are trained to perform movements which were | | | | before finally achieving their adult color between the |
| originally taught to military mounts so that they were | | | | ages of four and ten. Most often, the color is light-gray |
| more effective in battle. | | | | or white. However, there are also duns and bays. |
| The breed was first established in 1590, by the | | | | They are simply not as common and it is a rarity to |
| Archduke of Austria, Charles II. He began the first stud | | | | have an adult Lipizzaner be totally black-brown or |
| farm in Lipizza, then a part of Italy, and began breeding | | | | black. |
| the Iberian with the native breeds of Italy. Until well into | | | | The breed is long-lived, and has been recorded to live |
| the late 1700s, these horses were crossbred with the | | | | as long as 34 years. It is not uncommon for a |
| finest of horses from Spain, Italy and Arabia. They | | | | Lipizzaner to live well into its 20s. They are very loyal |
| were used, during that time, as family and carriage | | | | and are well-known for their magnificent stamina, agility, |
| horses for the Royal Court in Vienna. | | | | strength, and courage. |
| In 1735, Charles VI of Austria established the Spanish | | | | For training and showing, only stallions are used. And |
| Riding School in Vienna. It is the oldest riding school in | | | | the breeders/trainers look for a certain conformation in |
| the world (so named for the Spanish horses who | | | | those horses which are eventually trained for |
| were a large foundation of the breed), and for more | | | | dressage. These include: |
| than 400 years has trained riders and horses to | | | | - the stallion should be 15.2 to 16 hands (a hand is four |
| perform the classical dressage movements which | | | | inches, or 6 cm) high, that is 155 to 160 cm |
| have made the Lipizzaner famous. When Charles | | | | - the head is slightly aquiline to gently Roman in shape, |
| began the school, he also began recording the | | | | and the eyes are a good width apart |
| bloodlines of the breed. | | | | - the neck should be crested, but not appear too |
| Of the nine original studs used to establish the breed, | | | | heavy at the top nor too thick underneath |
| six bloodlines are used solely for breeding at the | | | | - the back and the neck should be of equal length |
| Spanish Riding School and Lipizzaners of South Africa | | | | - the chest should be strong, and of medium width |
| at Kyalami. These are the ones which they recognize | | | | - the shoulders should have a good slope |
| as the purest of the breed. Those six stallions were: | | | | - the legs should appear shorter, so that the horse is |
| - Pluto, born in 1765, grey in color | | | | better conformed to perform the "Airs Above the |
| - Conversano, born in 1767, black in color | | | | Ground" |
| - Favory, born in 1779, dun in color | | | | - the musculature should be pronounced, without |
| - Neapolitano, born in 1790, bay (brown) in color | | | | making the horse appear too heavy the hind quarters |
| - Siglavy, born in 1810, grey in color | | | | should be well-rounded |
| - Maestroso II, born in 1819, grey in color | | | | - the mane and tail should be thick and full, but fine and |
| Although the two breeders mentioned here tend to | | | | soft to the touch. |
| favor the light-grey and white stallions for showing, | | | | "Classical Dressage" |
| they consider it bad luck if there is not at least one bay | | | | The "Airs Above the Ground", when performed and |
| horse in their stables. | | | | observed, bring to mind the movements of a ballerina. |
| Lipizzaners are branded with a special symbol to | | | | In a manner of speaking, the Lipizzaner is the ballerina |
| indicate from which bloodlines they descended. They | | | | of the equine world. |
| bear the symbol of their sire, and the symbol of their | | | | The exercises performed by these magnificent |
| dam's sire. This is called the "ancestral brand". Foals | | | | creatures include:the levade: a 45 degree position in |
| are branded with a number so that one can easily | | | | which the horse is "haunched" over the ground the |
| locate them in the foal registry. In addition to these two | | | | courbette: the horse balances on his hind legs before |
| brands, each Lipizzaner also carries the "brand of | | | | jumping, and keeps his forelegs off the ground and his |
| descent" on its left cheek. This is quite often an "L". | | | | hind legs together while "hopping"the capriole: the |
| More recently, two other bloodlines have been | | | | stallion leaps into the air, tucks his forelegs under him, |
| internationally recognized as purebred. Those are: | | | | and kicks out with his hind legs at the height of |
| Tulipan, born in 1850, no color stated | | | | elevationthe piaffe: a cadenced trot which the stallion |
| Incitato, no date of birth or color stated | | | | performs while standing in placethe croupade: similar to |
| While not indicated as being recognized by the two | | | | the capriole, but both front and hind legs are tucked |
| aforementioned breeders, these bloodlines are | | | | under the body at the height of elevationand many |
| acceptable to many modern-day advocates of the | | | | more. It is fascinating to watch these horses in |
| bloodline purity. | | | | performance, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience |
| In 1920, the decision was made to move the | | | | which true horse-lovers should experience. They are |
| Lipizzaners from Lipizza (now in present-day Slovenia) | | | | stunning and, at times, awe-inspiring. They truly are the |
| to Piber, Austria. During World War 2 the entire | | | | ballerinas of the equine world, and a marvelous site to |
| inventory of the stock was moved to Holstau to | | | | behold! |
| prevent the animals from being seized and used in | | | | The Slovenians consider the Lipizzaner to be the first |
| battle, or requisitioned as food supplies by hostile | | | | pure-bred ever established in their country. As such, it |
| forces. The line almost became extinct (only 250 | | | | will most likely be pictured on their new euro coins. This |
| horses survived), and would have been wiped out | | | | horse is highly prized in their country. |
| completely without the intervention of General George | | | | The breed is rare today, with only about 3,000 horses |
| Patton. He and his troops rescued the survivors so | | | | registered as purebreds. But, the numbers are |
| that they could move on to continue their incredible | | | | increasing as breeders use the horses more in |
| history. | | | | harness. Slovenians use the stallions for dressage |
| In 1948, after having fled Europe, Count Elemer | | | | display and to cross-breed with their own native stock |
| Jankovich-Besan moved some of the surviving horses | | | | for use in agricultural work. The Lipizzaner is still the |
| to South Mooi River in South Africa. He gifted one of | | | | only breed used by the Spanish Riding School in |
| the stallions to Major George Iwanowski who, in turn, | | | | Austria. |